Wyndham Vacation Ownership, the world’s largest vacation ownership company and a member of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies announced in May, 2012, the launch of the Wyndham® Million Trees Project, an initiative to plant one million trees throughout national forests in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees.

As part of the Wyndham Green sustainability program to reduce the company’s environmental impact around the globe, owners, guests and associates at more than 150 Club Wyndham and WorldMark by Wyndham resorts and 10 corporate offices are encouraged to contribute to the cause.

“The Wyndham Million Trees Project is a new campaign that allows us to help repair our country’s forests that have been devastated by fire and natural disease,” said Geoff Richards, chief operations officer, Wyndham Vacation Ownership.

“Our business is dedicated to helping save the world’s natural resources through our many environmentally-conscious programs, from corporate recycling and waste reduction initiatives to our many sustainable resort operations. This new project will take our conservation efforts even further, allowing us to protect and maintain the nation’s outdoor beauty for future generations to enjoy,” said Richards.

The goal of this project is to raise $1 million to help plant one million trees across the country by Arbor Day 2013. Owners and guests can make monetary contributions toward the initiative in resort lobbies, online or text the word FOREST to 27722 to donate $10 to plant 10 trees.

“The need to replant our forests is vitally important because of damage from insects, disease and this year’s unprecedented forest and wildfires,” said John Rosenow, founder and chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation.

“Our forests provide countless environmental benefits, which include cleaning the air, absorbing carbon dioxide, purifying water resources and providing habitat for wildlife. We’re grateful for Wyndham’s partnership in this effort. These million trees will help keep our forests healthy for years to come,” said Rosenow.

In addition to the Wyndham Million Trees Project, the company partners with the Arbor Day Foundation on various other green initiatives. In April 2011, Wyndham Worldwide received the Arbor Day Foundation’s “Promise to the Earth Award” for its participation in the Rain Forest Rescue® Project with Arbor Day. This project supports shade-grown coffee served in Wyndham Vacation Ownership resort units.

Annually, Wyndham Vacation Ownership extends its commitment to the Arbor Day Foundation by planting signature trees at its corporate offices and resorts in celebration of the organization.